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A night in
Bethlehem is a very spiritual evening for ward members and their
families. Each person will leave with a true feeling of Christmas
and a joy of the birth of the Savior.
Families are
notified of the events by a flyer two or three weeks in advance.
The flyer will explain what will happen that night and give instructions
on what to wear and bring. Several days before the event a Decree
(invitation) that appears to be an official document rolled like a
scroll from Caesar Augustus, will summon all families to Bethlehem to be
taxed. Everyone is instructed to wear simple costumes of Christ's
time. Each family brings a mat or quilt to sit on. Be sure
and let the older folks know that there will be an Inn with chairs and
tables for those who can't sit on the floor. The families will
meet in the Chapel for the opening prayer.
INVITATION:
Copy the decree and fill in the needed information. Roll the
decree like a scroll and tie it with twine or raffia. (Using
parchment like paper, a good old fashioned like border and font really
looks nice.)
Decree
By order of
his Royal Majesty, the Emperor, it is decreed that all the world is to
be counted and taxed.
Therefore, let each person and family come for "A Night in
Bethlehem" to be taxed according to law.
Donkeys must be tied on the south side of the building and enter through
the proper gate.
Everyone must dress in "Biblical" attire to enter the city.
Bring a blanket for your family to rest on from their long journey, you
may find that the Inn is full.
Each family will be assessed taxes. Watch for tax notices.
A light supper will be available in the open market.
All taxing will take place on the date, time, and place shown in the
lower corner. Those found disobeying this law to appear, will be
sentenced to a holiday season without the true spirit of Christmas.
So let it be written. So let it be done.
Caesar Augustus
Date:
Time:
Place:
This activity can be done by a committee with
each member assigned over a different part of the night, or you can
assign each organization to be over one complete booth. Couples without
children might want to work in the shops so that younger parents could
be with their children. Any way can be effective if it works well for
your ward.
The cultural hall will be doctorate as a
street scene in Bethlehem, complete with booth where food, toys, drinks
can be bought with the sack of coins given to each family as the enter.
Many strands of white Christmas light are strung above the hall giving
the beautiful effect as stars when the lights are dimmed for the play.
Pin lights to the stage curtains behind the manger to give an extra
effect.
TAX COLLECTOR: A tax collector will visit
each family to symbolically collect taxes before the program begins.
The tax collector could collect cans of food from each family that could
be given to a local charity in lieu of "Money"
THE CENSUS; This could be a large scroll attached to an easel for each
family to sign.
LUMINARIES: Set at each entry and along the sidewalk at the church. 24
luminaries will provide you with a lot of light. Use white lunch sacks
with about a cup of sand in the bottom. Place a short white candle in
the sand and light.
GIFT SHOP (Gift of the Magi) Someone need
to decorate and run this booth and prepare the gold, incense and myrrh.
The gold is small rocks sprayed with gold paint. The frankincense is
potpourri and he myrrh is slightly burned caramelized sugar broken into
pieces.
PITA'S INN: Pita bread, bagels with cream cheese or butter are sold in
this booth. Also look in a Jewish cookbook for other ideas
FRUIT MARKET: Sell pieces of fruit like oranges, bananas, dates, grapes
and pineapple
DAIRY MARKET: stuffed eggs, cheese cubes and green and black olives can
be sold from this booth.
BISHOPS WINERY: Grape juice mixed with 7-up would be a good seller here.
BAKERY SHOP: Trays of cookies and pastries
TOY SHOP: A Dreidel is a small Jewish top. Brightly colored plastic
ones can be purchased from a Jewish Synagogue. It's a fun game for
children.
Put the driedel and game instructions in a small baggie.
Spices simmering in an electric crock pot can give a good aroma and add
to the atmosphere. Start them an hour or so before hand to get them
smelling good.
Decorate with baskets, crocks, dried weeds etc.
PROGRAM: the following assignments should be made:
Chairman to conduct
opening and closing prayers
Roman soldier to read decree
Accompanist for prelude music
chorister during program
sound system
narrator
lighting for manger scene, WISEMEN and shepherds
actors:
Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, 3 WISEMEN, shepherds, angels
CLEAN UP: everyone on ALL committees help clean up
Activity:
Everyone will be directed to the chapel. Prelude music will be
playing as everyone is seated. After the opening prayer and
blessing on the food, inform each family that as they leave the chapel
they will need to sign the census and then each person will receive a
bag of money for the evening. Children should be counseled to
spend wisely so they have enough money to pay for everything. Each
family should have brought a mat or quilt to sit on in the street, but
there will be an Inn where older people and others with special needs
can sit and eat and relax. Let them know the tax collector will be
around to collect their taxes before the program starts. Have each
family mingle through the town buying their dinner, toys, etc. with
their money they received at the beginning. Inform them that
during the program they are encouraged to join in singing with the
music. Parents should keep their children with them so they will
be reverent and quiet during this time. Instruct them to exit
quietly and reverently at the end of the program so the mood of the
evening is not broken. After these instructions have been given,
dismiss them to sign the census, collect their money and go to the
Cultural Hall.
Allow enough
time for everyone to look at the booths, play a few games, and eat
before the program begins
After the
closing prayer everyone is reminded to leave quietly. The cleaning
and picking up is not started until everyone has left
PROGRAM:
When most of the families have finished eating, the lights will be
dimmed and Mary and Joseph will enter and weave through the throng
looking for a place to stay. Have them wander around a little
until you can see they have been noticed. When they have been
seen, turn off all the lights except the stars and the spotlight.
This is the beginning of the program. If you are going to sing
more than one verse of each song, present everyone with a copy of the
music when they leave the Chapel.
Pianist plays
soft music until everyone is seated and quiet.
CENTURION:
(Reads proclamation) "Hear ye! Hear Ye! Gather your families
around and give heed to the words that are said."
NARRATOR:
For the Kingdom of Heaven is soon at hand; the Son of God cometh in His
glory, in His might, majesty, power, and dominion. Yea my beloved
brethren, I say unto you, that the Spirit saith; Behold the glory of the
king of all the earth; and also the king of heaven shall very soon shine
forth among all the children of men. Thus we should "make a
joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth; make a loud noise, and
rejoice and sing praise."
SONG:
Joy To The World (everyone)
NARRATOR:
And it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar
Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And all went to be
taxed, everyone into his own city. And Joseph also went up from
Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of
David, which is called Bethlehem; to be taxed, with Mary his espoused
wife, being great with child.
SONG: O
Little Town of Bethlehem (everyone)
During the
song, Joseph and Mary walk slowly through the streets, stopping at each
door where they are greeted with someone shaking their head
"no" as if saying there is no room. Have them end up on
the stage beside the manger just as the song ends. (Their cultural hall
has no stage so it was set in a corner of the hall. This made it
cozy and intimate I thought. If using the stage it would be nice
to have stairs available so they don't have to exit and appear on stage
from the hallway.)
NARRATOR:
And so it was that while they were there, the days were accomplished
that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first born
son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger
because there was no room for them in the Inn.
Joseph with
Mary holding the baby at the manger. Pause and leave the light on
them for a minute before continuing.
NARRATOR:
And there were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the fields
keeping watch over their flocks by night. And Lo, the angel of the
Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them
and they were sore afraid.
Light shines
on shepherds in the field.
SONG:
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks (everyone)
NARRATOR:
And the angel said unto them, Fear not for, behold, I bring you good
tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you
is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the
Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe
wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly
there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God,
and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will
toward men.
SONG:
Far, Far away on Judea's Plains (everyone)
NARRATOR:
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into Heaven,
the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem,
and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known
unto us.
Shepherds go
to the manger and kneel before Baby Jesus.
NARRATOR:
And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying
in a manger.
SONG:
Away in a Manger (everyone)
NARRATOR:
And the Shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all the
things that they had seen and heard, as it was told unto them.
Shepherds
leave.
Wise Men
enter the room.
NARRATOR:
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the
king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying,
"Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen
his star in the East, and are come to worship him."
SONG:
We Three Kings (everyone)
NARRATOR:
And lo, the star, which they saw in the East went before them, till it
came and stood over where the young child was, When they saw the Star,
they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
SONG:
With Wondering Awe (everyone)
Wise Men
present gifts to Baby Jesus.
NARRATOR:
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with
Mary his mother, and fell down and worshipped him; and when they opened
their treasures, they presented unto him gifts: gold, frankincense, and
myrrh.
EVERYONE ON
STAGE FREEZES AND STAYS THERE UNTIL THE LAST SONG AND CLOSING PRAYER IS
OVER
NARRATOR:
Now two thousand and _____ (use current year) later we approach this
most joyous and sacred time of the year when we celebrate our Savior's
birth. It is the greatest season of the year when selfishness is
subordinate to the desire to give rather than receive. Joy, love,
kindness, and good will are among the simple attributes that make this
holiday season so very special. When Jesus came as a lowly babe,
there was no room in the Inn. Today, every heart and every home
should bid him welcome. Then selfishness, jealousy, enmity and all
other things which bring unhappiness will be replaced with love, joy,
kindness, and good will.
Christ came
to give us peace and eternal life. Let us accept His gift with
thankfulness, gratitude and remembrance. In remembrance of that
most silent and holy night when God sent down His ultimate gift of love.
SONG:
Silent Night (everyone) (I think this would be great sung as a deep male
solo a Capella very thought provoking)
CLOSING
PRAYER: Preassigned
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"Choose
you this day
whom ye will
serve
but for me
and my
house we will
serve the Lord "
